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Police seek violent robbers

10/07/2007

CCTV footage of three robbers who tied up staff at a Greater Manchester DIY store for more than an hour has been released by police.

Detectives hope that making public the images from the Homebase store in Stockport will lead to new information about the robbery.

At about 08:20 BST on Tuesday June 26th, three men armed with a machete and crowbars entered the store shortly after opening time.

They used cable to tie up six members of staff and the CCTV footage shows the workers being dragged by the feet down the store's aisles.

Greater Manchester police say that none of the workers were injured but say they have all been left "extremely shaken" by the incident.

"I cannot put into words how my staff felt that day," store manager Alex Rattigan said.

"I find it truly horrifying to think about what they went through.

"In total nine of them were involved and some of them were tied up for over an hour. The long ordeal has understandably taken its toll and they have all been offered trauma counselling as a result."

All the men on the CCTV footage are believed to be white, aged between 22 and 28 and were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas covering their faces.

One of the suspects had brown eyes, another had had blue eyes and one was heard being called 'Sam'.

Police say they stole a small amount of cash and may have used a stolen red Audi A4 to escape. The vehicle was later found behind shops off Osbourne Street, Bredbury.

Detective Inspector Denise Worth from Stockport CID said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff involved and they have all been left extremely traumatised by the incident.

"To arrive at work and be faced with three armed men is bad enough, but to
then be tied up for such a long time must be truly horrendous."

Police have urged anyone with any information about the robbery to contact them immediately.

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